Carpet Design Awards now for the third time at DOMOTEX HANNOVER

Hannover, January 13, 2008: Worth a total of â‚¬10,000 to the winners, the Carpet Design Awards (CDA) took place for the third time under the umbrella of DOMOTEX HANNOVER. A total of 148 carpets were entered (CDA 2006: 140) from ten countries (Germany, Iran, Canada, Switzerland, USA, Austria, China, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Morocco). The awards were presented on Sunday, 13 January, by Stephan Ph. KÃ¼hne, a Member of the Deutsche Messe Board of Management, and Sebastian Ghandchi, Publisher of Hali Publications. The very positive response on the part of exhibitors and visitors underlines that the Carpet Design Awards have become an important asset in the DOMOTEX portfolio.

The high-calibre jury selected winners in ten different categories from a shortlist of 30. The jurors focused on the evaluation criteria Material, Design, Colour and Quality. "I am very happy about the development of the Carpet Design Awards. The variety of design, the international nature and high quality of this year's submissions continues the year on year improvement of this event", emphasized the jury chairman Matthew Bourne.

Ben Evans, editor of HALI and modern carpets & textiles for interiors magazines, commented: "If, as I believe, the Carpet Design Awards are a barometer of quality and innovation in our industry, then makers of handmade carpets are truly producing something significant in terms of both design and technique."

The 2008 CDA Awards have received the support of the European Carpet Importers Association (EUCA). This association embraces well-known German and other European carpet importers. The members buy, import and sell hand-made Oriental carpets on a world-wide basis.

The growth and increasing importance of the competition to the international carpet industry was acknowledged by the involvement of two Bronze sponsors this year: Booria CAD/Cam Systems, returning for the second year, and the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan.

The 30 Carpet Design Award "finalists" will be on show in Hall 15 until Tuesday. Visitors are invited to select their favourite exhibit - and have the chance to win a trip to DOMOTEX Middle East in Dubai (25 - 27 May, 2008). Votes can be cast until Monday evening.

The ten prize-winners are as follows:

Category 1: Best Modern Design < â‚¬100 mÂ²

Zinnat Rugs, 'Bamyan', 302 by 192 cm

Comment: a harmonious rug with great colours and strong commercial potential.

Category 2: Best Modern Design â‚¬100 mÂ²- â‚¬250 mÂ²

Werner Weber, 'Iranian Kilim Noor', 380 by 276 cm

Comment: a beautiful rug with an evocative design distinguished by the rhythmic use of colour.

Category 3: Best Modern Design > â‚¬250 mÂ²

Jan Kath, 'Roma Vendetta', 300 by 250 cm

Comment: a complex design brilliantly executed.

Category 4: Best Traditional Nomadic Design < â‚¬150 mÂ²

Woven Legends, 'Central Anatolian Aktulu carpet',

112 by 305 cm

Comment: an impressive interpretation of a traditional Central Anatolian rug with exquisite colours.

Category 5: Best Traditional Nomadic Design > â‚¬150 mÂ²

Heidarian, 'Katoli', 260 by 205 cm

Comment: a rug with great depth of colour that embodies the true character of a nomadic carpet

Category 6: Best Traditional Workshop/Formal Design

Heidarian, 'Sana', 194 by 140 cm

Comment: the colours, proportions and attention to detail in this rug are perfect.

Category 7: Best Antique Carpet

A Serapi carpet, North Western Persia, 359 by 245 cm

Comment: a beautiful example of its type featuring a superb, understated range of colours

Category 8: Best Collection Modern

Floor to Heaven, 'Love Nature: Beach', 270 by 370 cm

Comment: this collection is the beginning of something beautiful and revolutionary in tufting.